A LIVERPOOL grandmother who lost her son to lung cancer today encouraged people to take part in a ground-breaking screening programme.

Pat McGee, 68, from Childwall, has herself signed up to the landmark trial, which doctors say could save thousands of lives.

Mrs McGee’s 45-year-old son Philip Ireland, a dad-of-three, died in 2010 from the illness.

And now she wants to encourage others to sign up to the UK Lung Cancer Screening Trial (UKLS).

The retired healthcare assistant said: “Lung cancer is such a huge problem in Liverpool, I know so many people who are affected.

“Just last week I heard about a 21-year-old who was diagnosed.

“Philip’s death completely devastated me – he was so young. The doctors said he must have had it for two years before it was spotted and by that time he did not stand a chance.

“The screening programme could help spot cancers earlier, meaning they can be operated on or treated and lives could be saved.”

Thousands of Merseysiders have been asked to take part in the trial, run by Liverpool university from Liverpool heart and chest hospital, in Broadgreen. Researchers want to see if a screening programme could be rolled out nationally.

Letters are being sent to 45,000 homes in Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton inviting men and women aged 45-70 to join the project.

Participants will be asked to complete a lifestyle questionnaire and may be invited to a recruitment clinic.

Individuals will then be selected at random to have a CT scan to trace early signs of the killer disease.

Researchers said for most people no worrying signs will be detected – but if the scan does spot any problems, patients will be treated.

Mrs McGee, a former smoker who suffers from lung disease, said: “People do not need to worry. I have had my CT scan now and have been told to come back in a year for another one.

“I really would encourage people to respond to the letters.”

So far 410 people are involved in the trial, which is part of the Liverpool Lung Project, funded by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Research nurse Fran Johnston added: “We want as many people as possible to respond to the letters but there is no pressure to continue in the trial if you do not want to.

“We are always here to offer advice and information.”

The pilot is funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) and builds on a wider programme of research. It is being held in partnership with Papworth hospital, in Cambridge.